IO Inc. Retro M16A1 With Original Colt Parts

IO Inc., best known for their AK rifles, will soon be selling M16A1 rifles made from original Colt M16A1 parts. The only non-Colt parts will be the IO-manufactured semi-automatic lower receiver and the barrel. The upper receiver, sights and furniture are authentic Colt M16A1 parts. The rifle does not have a MSRP yet. The company is aiming to price it at around $800.

The M16A1 was replaced with the M16A2 in the early 1970s. I would love to know where in the world IO found a stash of ancient Colt parts.

They are U.S. Surplus, with Green Mountain barrels (U.S. made). Century Arms was making the exact same thing called the C-15. Never could figure why the government won’t sell the barrels with them. At first they were only sold as parts kits with the new barrel in the white.

El Duderino

Looks like someone found the long lost ARVN stockpile. Nice rifles, only dropped once!

SOG VN Veteran

You know absolutely nothing about the ARVN’s roles in Vietnam, and you show it by that comment.

SORRY- The M16-A2 did not show up until the late 1980’s. I was in the US Army Infantry ’85-’88, and not one ‘A2 was seen at Ft Benning, or at the 101st ABN. Wish I had had one, but did not 🙁

Rodger Young

My unit, 5th ID, got their A2s (FN) in 1991. Don’t feel bad.

JRT

I was in Basic at Benning for INF fall of ’87 and we were issued A2’s and I remember being told that we were the first class to get them. When I got to the 82nd after jump school in January ’88 they already had A2’s.

Huey148

Same here…E/7/1 or E/2/19 (Army adopted the Regimental Affiliation system while there) at Sand Hill from Aug to Nov 87….we too had the A2’s

talon55101

Don’t feel bad. I was AirForce Security Police 83-87 I was issued a Colt Model 602, the ORIGINAL first batch M-16. Mine had AR-15 on the receiver. No assist, chrome bolt, three prong suppressor. serial number was in the 44,000 range. Worked perfectly, Wouldn’t trade it for the world. We were told once that if we went to war our M-16’s ALL EARLY MODELS. would stay at the base because they were garrison rifles. We would go and be issued new rifles when we got there. Almost started a mutiny. NOBODY would go without their issued rifles, that they knew better then their mothers. I called mine Kitty Kat. She always purred.

Steve (TFB Editor)

Production began in the 1970s, I doubt Colt was producing new M16s after the M16A1 design has been finalized.

Dumbasss Alex

The M16A2 wasn’t even accepted by the US DoD until 1985.

Justin Lucenti

That’s an A1 upper. Notice the C M lettering in place of the windage knob.

I wonder if they are using the original A1 twist rate. I would actually prefer it since I shoot mostly 55gr and I hear the old 1/14 was quite deadly with it.

Cymond

I doubt it. It’s probably 1:9.

I’d love to find a reasonably priced modern barrel in 1:14 or 1:12. I would drop a 22lr conversion bolt in to it and it would be my dedicated rimfire upper, except I would also have the option of converting back to 5.56mm by just changing the bolt group.

Last year I took a chance and purchased Century Arms version of the same rifle. They imported everything but the barrel and lower receiver and assembled them here. I think I got one of the last of their rifles because they soon disappeared from the market. I was lucky, the one I bought works great and is a tack driver. I even found an original A1 pistol grip. My only complaint is they anodized them black instead of matching the original gray color. It looks as if IO’s will be black also. I imagine that IO’s quality will be even better than CA.

Maverick355

Correction, in one picture it looks black but gray in the others.

Black_Viper

I want one, nothing like having modern history in my collection.

Tim U

I want one. Now. For some reason, I’ve wanted the old retro design more than the A2 design for my “rifle size” AR.

I built my own- which is more like an A2 everywhere except the barrel. Looks good. Has original three prong flash suppressor.

Huey148

MSRP: $800….actual street price: $2000

RickH

I’m curious as to what the projected run is. Do they have enough parts for say, 10000 rifles?

Jeff Smith

Is the lower an actual A1 lower?

Jeff Smith

Also, isn’t Century doing the same thing? I think I remember seeing the same type configuration from them.

talon55101

Century did. Not sure if they still do. they called it the C-15.

justin

Its a A2 lower.

Walter E. Kurtz

Hopefully those parts kits are already in the US because I suspect that in about 45 minutes King Obama will announce a ban on the importation of surplus military parts and high capacity magazines. BOHICA.

kagbalete

Chances are from the Philippines, still a lot of old M16A1 parts to be had….

Patrick

When Is this going to be released?!

Lance

The M-16A1 was replaced in Marine Army service in 1983 (Marines) and 1986 (Army) not the 70s. M-16A1 stayed in Army service till the mid 90s. Want one they look so cool.

Lance

Steve buy the book “The Black Rifle”

Rifleman 336

M-16A2 was not accepted until 1985. The M-16A1 came out in late 69’and even saw combat in the last days of American involvement in Vietnam.

So what happened to these guns? Did Century decide to scrap this? I was very interested in a retro M16A1 looking gun.

Jai

I meant to say I.O…sorry.

talon55101

Many moons ago I had a Colt SP-1 and have been kicking myself ever since for selling it. I have a M-4 clone parts gun and a Colt M-6700 Competition HBAR that weighs a ton. Does anyone have this AR-15a1 for sale today? If the price is right I’d buy it in a heart beat.